This week in the Commons: 12 April 2019
12 April 2019 (updated on 12 April 2019)
This week in the House of Commons MPs debated a number of Brexit statutory instruments as well as racism in football and the 2019 Loan Charge. The House of Commons rose for recess on Thursday 11 April and will return for business on Tuesday 23 April.
Debate on Section 1 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019
On Tuesday 9 April, MPs debated a motion required by the passage of the European Union (Withdrawal)(No. 5) Act 2019, instructing the Prime Minister to seek an extension of Article 50 from the European Union, until 30 June 2019
Legislation: Private Members' Bills
European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 5) Bill
On Monday 8 April 2019, the House of Lords returned the Bill to the House of Commons with five amendments. The House of Commons debated these amendments for an hour before accepting them all, and rejecting amendments to the amendments at division.
Ten Minute Rule Motions
Two Private Members Bills were introduced to the House following Ten Minute Rule Motions this week:
Statutory Instruments (SIs)
This week, MPs approved the draft Trade in Torture etc. Goods (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, the draft Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2019 and four Brexit SIs related to international sanctions.
Urgent questions and ministerial statements
This week seven urgent questions were asked:
- Parliament News: Medical cannabis seized at Southend Airport
- Parliament News: Crisis in Libya raised in urgent question
- Parliament News: Government questioned on alleged Rwandan genocide perpetrators
- Parliament News: Urgent question on the Windrush Compensation Scheme
- Parliament News: Government questioned after guilty verdict for pro-democracy Hong Kong activists
- Parliament News: Urgent question on voter ID pilots ahead of local elections
- Parliament News: Urgent question on Stagecoach's disqualification from rail franchise bidding
There were also four oral ministerial statements.
- Parliament news: Government announce plans for "duty of care" online safety laws
- Parliament news: "Football cannot be used as a cloak for racism and intolerance"
- Parliament news: Prime Minister's statement after Article 50 extended to 31 October 2019
- Parliament news: Statement: Julian Assange arrested after seven years in embassy
Prime Minister's Questions
In PMQs this week MPs asked the Prime Minister about local government funding, Universal Credit, drug availability, climate change and more.
Watch PMQs from this week:
Backbench business debates
This week in the Commons Chamber, MPs resumed the debate on the 2019 Loan Charge.
- Commons Hansard: UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- Commons Hansard: 2019 Loan Charge
Westminster Hall debates
Debates on a variety of different subjects also took place in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 9, Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 April. See the Parliamentary calendar to find out what subjects were debated.
- Calendar: Westminster Hall debates
Select Committees
News from Parliamentary Select Committees, including the publication of reports and details of inquiries and evidence sessions are also available online.
Easter Recess
Following a motion passed by the House on Thursday 11 April, the House of Commons rose for recess following the adjournment on the same day, and will return on Tuesday 23 April.
Image: PC - Jessica Taylor
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